San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-08-06
HUMANE CRIMINAL

HUMAN IF CRIMINAL.
The recent revelations that have been
made in Mississippi concerning the
treatment of prisoners in the state penl-
Tertiary under the lease system, oooa-
sions profound sympathy with this I'M
fortunate class, many OF whom are as
much sinned against as they are sinners.
Texas may we'll congratulate herself
that si,o..su past. This is but one step,
however, in the way of a more humane
and intelligent treatment OF our Grim
inals, and our phiIanthrOpists VINO are
so terribly exercised over the COnse-
Quences of the licensing OF saloons in
Texas, will find very fruitful theme
for their speeches and labors in endeav-
oring to rescue from the dominion and
ranks Of crime those who have come I'M
der the primitive and corrective disCi-
pine OF the state. Perhaps it were q
misnOmer to call it in any sense cOrrec-
tive, but corrective it certainly should
be made If any permanent results for
good are to follow the administrations
OF prison discipline. There is but one
Idea that needs to be thoroughly in
grained into the mind Of prisoner to
make very marked change for the bet
ter in his prison department, and lead to
radical change in his conduct upon his
being again restored to his liberty.
That idea is, that as a mere business
investment it pays better to be honest,
Industrious and law abiding than it does
to be dishonest, idle and law breaking,
The sentimentalities of the situation are
very largely lost upon the average law
breaker. He is taught mainly rs the
rest OF mankind are taught, through his
experiences. Let him meet with such
discipline while In prison as to convince
him by practical test that his own COM
fort, Quality of food, treatment, privi-
eyes and all else that he deems desirable
depend upon himself, and will have
learned very important lesson. Let
the convict be made to see that work is
q necessity of life, by noting that those
who cheerfully work in prison are well
fed and better cared for than those who
do not work; do not make his work COM
pulsOry but dependent upon his willing
ness and it will be only a short time be-
fore he will desire work as snxiOusly as
the ordinary prisoner shuns it. Let this
desire for employment be fOstered by
making proficiency as we'll as diligence
a condition Of still more favorable treat
ment, better food, improved conditions,
more liberty, and the stimulus to ODE
dience, and close attention to work will
soon work revolution in the mans
own mind. His intellige nee soon grasps
the idea that the same attention to
work, and the same regularity of habits,
and the same diligence outside the
walls Of prison would gain for him bet
ter food, more liberty and larger Oppor-
tunities Of enjoyment with only one half
the hours spent in toll. Thus his rea-
son and common sense are put to work
upon the problem Of his own life in it's
ACAotAVh " ~ " hlu cOCb Pldlull
that his interests lie on the side of So
briefly, honesty, diligence and con-
formIty to the laws OF society. He
ceases to regard society as his enemy and
learns to find in himself the
for all the primitive dis
cipline under which he has suffered.
Let the watohcare of his state be ex-
tended him on leaving his prison yard,
until employment can be secured in the
lew trade or occupation be has there |
earned; let a decent per cent. OF his
earnings be at his disposal as he may
iced them, the state acting as his trustee
Until he gets settled in his new way OF
living and the chances will be ninteen
mt Of twenty that such a man will have
cen his last Of prison life. This work
I reformation in a practical way is
realty needed in this state, and it ls not